Shoe retainer



sept. 19, 1944. R, H, POPE 2,358,474

SHOE RETAINER Y A Filed oct. 12, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 1 In ven to r By @Mao/5h Sept. 19, 1944. POPE 2,358,474

n sHoE RETAINER Filed oct. 112, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I r11/enter @E wvo/vo /Doi @mgwn @d/wey l? A tto rneys Patented Sept. 19, 1944 i UNITED STATES PATENT orrl'cE SHOEBI'INER y Application October 12, 1943, Y Serial No. y505,975

(Cl. .a6-58.5)

3 Claims.

This invention relates to footwear and shoes in general, particularly so-called low shoes for men and women and has more specific reference to novel and satisfactory retaining means, that is, means which is incorporated in the vamp of the shoe upper in a manner to snugly embrace the instep of the wearer, whereby to dispense with the use of buttons, laces, and fasteners in general.

As this application for patent is formulated war requirements and various priorities restrictions have established a condition or trend of event which is calculated to simplify articles for personal Wear' to thus economize and save countless materials. Motivated with this incentive, I have found it both expedient and practicable to embody a simple retainer in the vamp of shoes which is possessed of comfort, convenience, strength and durability and which is destined to become an aptly appropriate substitute for extraneous accessories in the form of fasteners and special trinkets and articles of adornment.

Pursuant to the dictates of my present convictions I achieve desired aims through the medium of a resilient plastic or equivalent retainer, this being preferably embedded in the vamp and appropriately anchored to the shankn of the sole, whereby to cause the associated flaps to yieldably embrace and gently clasp conforming portions of the instep, the retainer being sufflcient to enable shoe manufacturers to dispense with tongues, and special grommets, hooks, buttons, laces and the like.

In carrying out the form of the invention which appears to be most suitable for desired results, I have devised a simple and efficient stirrup-like vamp complement which conforms to and saddles itself upon the foot of the wearer to make elimination of commonly and conventionally used fasteners possible.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description andthe accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional or standard low shoe showing the improved vamp-type instep embracing fastener. constructed and embedded in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the arrangement depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the irregular line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the insert constituting the special retainer, the same detached from the shoe.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of av slight modification in design and construction.

Reference is had first to the attachment per se depicted in Figure 4 in perspective form. This is denoted, as a unit, by the numeral 6. It is constructed of sheet resilient metal, if available, or in present war times, of plastic material of an appropriate resistance and durable grade. It is not so much the' material which counts, but rather the article made from resilient material of appropriate strength and purposefulness. As previously indicated this article 6 is like a stirrup in general outline or configuration. It includes the connective web 'l and a pair of foot embracing limbs 8 and 9, the limbs curve in an appropriate fashion to conform to the instep of the foot of the wearer and preferably include, adjacent their free ends, lobe-like extensions I0 which are in eiect adapters to coact with the split flap Il in the vamp portion of the shoe upper l2. Incidentally, I have shown a standard shoe in the drawings, the upper being denoted by the numeral I2 and the sole at I3. In practice, the bight or connective portion 1 is `fashioned to extend transversely of the medianarea of the shank of thek y shoe sole. Said portion 1 is secured appropriately in place and is shielded by the adjacent portion of the insole I4 as broughtjout to advantage in E Figure 3. The limbs 8 and 9 are covered by the leather lining or cloth lining l5 in which said limbs are appropriately stitched and pocketed. The protruding adapters l0 conform to the crotch portions of the aps ll as brought out to advantage in Figures 1 and 2. The main idea is to provide an insert of'resilient material as indicated at 6, this including a portion underlying the metatarsal arch of the-foot and having limbs or wings reachingup over and conforming to the opposed side portions of the instep of the foot. The Wings, of course, terminate in spaced relation from the adjacent longi-` tudinal edges of the flaps Il. Thus, we have a built-in resilient arch and instep embracingV shoe insert which forms a satisfactory retainer and does away with special lacings and fasteners as are customarily used.

In the modification shown in Figure 5, one of the limbs is hinged in placel as indicated at i6, there being a spring clip l'l appropriately arranged to serve as a latch. This has a wider spread than the one-piece arrangement seen in Figure 4 and perhaps might facilitate inserting and removing theV foot in relation to the shoe.

A built-in retainer of this type insures comfort, minimizes expense of manufacture, is in keeping with the times and gives the shoe a new appearance which is neat and calculated to en- Vhance general appearance for war-time footwear.

It is thought that. persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthly descrip-r tion is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed maybe resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: y

l. A shoe of the class described comprising a sole and an upper, said upper including a vamp havingY flaps minus the usual fasteners, and a pair of opposed resilient elements associated with said aps and conforming to the instep and adjacent areas of the foot, said elements constituting retainers for holding the shoe on the foot.

Y jacent areas of the foot, a transverse web portion connecting the lower ends of said elements together and anchored in the underlying portion of the shoe sole, the upper forward edge portions of said elements being provided with wing-like adapter extensions also conforming to the adjacent portions of the contours of the naps, whereby said elements constitute the sole retaining means for holding the shoe on the foot.

REYMOND H. POPE. 

